Vacuum pump lid for cannisters

ABSTRACT

A vacuum pump lid that can be applied to any cannister is disclosed. The lid integrates with the closure system of the cannister, whether it be by threads, push or snap closures, or the like. With the pumping of a button on the top of the lid, a pliable valve pin operates to remove a small amount of air from the cannister to achieve a vacuum seal. The seal is released when the lid is removed. The simple solution uses few moving parts to achieve the results, making it sturdy and faster to produce.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT Appl. No. PCT/US2019/032050 filed on May 13, 2019.

BACKGROUND

The present invention lies in the field of portable, vacuum-sealable containers. It is beneficial to vacuum seal a jar or cannister containing dry goods in order to preserve storage life. Because vacuum sealing requires removing air from the cannister, many commercially available vacuum seal solutions require a separate suction device that attaches to the lid. Other devices include multiple movable parts that wear and degrade with time. It is therefore desirable to provide a simple, portable solution that does not require a separate vacuum sealing device, and moreover requires as few parts as possible to accomplish the desired functionality.

SUMMARY

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a simple, portable vacuum pump lid that can be applied to various containers. The invention comprises a lid assembly that can cover a cannister while incorporating vacuum-sealing functionality in a lightweight, simple design. The lid assembly comprises a tubular sleeve having connection means at its bottom end for attachment to a cannister, and an opening at its top end with diameter less than the diameter of the sleeve, the opening forming a socket and outlet for a depressible cap; a cylindrical housing fitting within the tubular sleeve and comprising a closed base and an open top end, and receiving at its top end the depressible cap, which is movably fitted within the cylindrical housing with a spring interposed between the depressible cap and the closed base, thereby comprising a piston; an airhole through the closed base of the cylindrical housing, the airhole having a top opening and a bottom opening; and a pliable valve pin movably situated within the airhole and comprising a neck, a convex top flange the diameter of which exceeds the top opening of the airhole and a bottom flange the diameter of which exceeds the bottom opening of the airhole, whereby the neck of the valve pin is movably retained within the airhole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the device.

FIG. 2 is side cross-sectional view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements, the device comprises a vacuum pump lid [100] with a pressable vacuum pump [107] on the top. The vacuum pump lid [100] can attach to various containers such as cannister [200]. In particular, so long as vacuum pump lid [100] matches the diameter of the cannister mouth and has complementary attachment means to the cannister mouth (pictured here with threads [109]), then the vacuum pump lid [100] will apply to the cannister.

The vacuum pump lid is shown in exploded views in FIGS. 3-4 and in cross-sectional view in FIG. 2. The lid comprises a tubular sleeve [105] having complementary means [115] for closing a cannister [200]. Some examples of closure means commonly available today include screw covers, twist-off caps, corks, snap-on caps, bail closures. Various mechanical structures function to effect attachment and closure, including threads (pictured), lugs, and plugs. As depicted in the drawings, cannister [200] has threads [109] for receiving a cap, therefore the complementary closure means of tubular sleeve [105] comprise threaded connectors [115].

Tubular sleeve [105] holds depressible cap [107] and a cylindrical housing [106] through which air from the jar [200] is removed. In particular, in the preferred embodiment tubular sleeve [105] has a flanged opening opposite to the closure end forming a socket [125] and egress for depressible cap [107]. Depressible cap [107] has a flange [117] at its base so that when fit into the socket [125] it remains in place protruding from the sleeve. In other words, flanged opening [125] would have a smaller diameter than that of the tubular sleeve [105] such that depressible cap [107] presents as a button that the user can press.

Depressible cap [107] covers cylindrical housing [106], whose base is solid save for an opening [111] through which valve pin [110] transects the base. Spring [108] is interposed between cap [107] and the base of the cylindrical housing [106], thereby comprising a piston when cap [107] is depressed, thereby compressing the spring. To ensure its function as a piston, depressible cap [107] can be fitted with an airtight seal between its edge [117] and the cylindrical housing [106], for instance with a gasket.

Valve pin [110] comprises a convex top flange [101], disc-shaped bottom flange [102], and neck [103] whereby the valve pin [110] transects the base of housing [106] by being retained within airhole [111]. Valve pin [110] has a diameter less than that of airhole [111] so as to allow air movement through the airhole, and is preferably constructed of a pliant material allowing it to easily move within the airhole when depressible cap [107] is pumped, causing air to flow up and down in the housing [106]. Sample pliable materials include thermoplastic polyurethane, silicone, rubber, etc.

Convex top flange [101] and disc-shaped bottom flange [102] each have diameters exceeding that of airhole [111], so that valve pin's neck [103] remains retained within the airhole even as air pushes against the valve pin. Due to the convexity of top flange [101], valve pin [110] is pushed downwards by air when cap [107] is depressed, causing an opening to form around the neck at the base of the airhole. When cap [107] springs back to its original position, vacuum force pulls valve pin [110] back upwards, causing air from the cannister [200] to exit through that opening formed around the base of the airhole [111]. Bottom flange [102] then rests in place over the base of the airhole [111] to seal the airhole. After several pumps of depressible cap [107], top flange [101] will begin to flatten against the top of the airhole [111]. The pressure inside the cylindrical housing [106] will hold spring [108] in a compressed state and the user will find cap [107] difficult to press further. Thus, a vacuum seal will have been created.

Preferably, base cap [104] covers the underside of cylindrical housing [106], protecting the assembly of air hole [111] and valve pin [110] from materials and damage. In order to allow for air flow into cylindrical housing [106], base cap [104] comprises ribs [123] and airholes [113]. Gasket [121] ensures a tight seal between vacuum pump lid [100] and cannister [200]. In an alternative embodiment, instead of base cap [104] and gasket [121], seal [144] covers the underside of cylindrical housing [106]. Cylindrical housing [106] may also comprise one or more catches [145] to hold seal [144] in place by openings [146] on the seal. Cylindrical housing [106] may also comprise one or more depressions [147] allowing for air flow so air can be pumped out of the cannister. Seal [144] may be made of pliable materials such as silicone or polyurethane, thereby creating an airtight seal between its outer circumference and the lip of the cannister.

Airhole [111] is contained within a depression [143] at the base of cylindrical housing [106], such that the depth of the depression [143] exceeds that of the length of valve pin [110] even when convex top flange [101] has flattened against the top of the airhole. Additional structures such as walls can be located surrounding the valve pin [110] so to prevent pliable seal [144] from making contact with or otherwise interfere with the operation of the valve pin.

The pump does not create a PSI high enough to prevent breaking the vacuum seal manually. Therefore, the sole structure that functions to release the vacuum seal is the release mechanism for releasing the sleeve [105] from the cannister. If the connection means is threads (as pictured), one or two degrees of manual twisting of the sleeve [105] counterclockwise will release the vacuum seal and open the cannister. Similarly, if the connection means is a snap closure, the vacuum will easily be released by manually pulling off the sleeve [105]. Upon breaking the vacuum seal, spring [108] will expand to its original position and valve pin [110] will return to its original shape. Thus, additional structures and parts do not need to be integrated into the vacuum functionality of the lid assembly, further reducing potential causes of wear and breakdown. Furthermore, the functioning of tubular sleeve [105] to facilitate the opening and closing of the cannister means that child proofing functionality can be integrated into tubular sleeve [105]. For instance, push-down to open or squeeze to open functionality can be integrated into the threaded tubular sleeve mechanism.

The overall simplicity of design ensures more efficient production and longer lasting parts. The only moving parts are pump [107], spring [108] and valve pin [110], each of which are constructible of a single material. For instance, the spring may be constructed of a single coil of metal, while the pump may be constructed of a single piece of plastic, and the valve pin may be constructed of a single piece of silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, or the like. These materials are relatively sturdy and resistant to wear. Valve pin [110] functions by a simple up and down movement powered by suction, therefore resulting in minimal wear and tear. 

1. A vacuum pump lid for attaching to a cannister having a mouth with means for receiving the vacuum pump lid, the vacuum pump lid comprising: a tubular sleeve having complementary means at its bottom end for attaching the vacuum pump lid to the mouth of the cannister, and an opening at its top end with diameter less than the diameter of the sleeve, the opening forming a socket to receive a depressible cap; a cylindrical housing fitting within the tubular sleeve and comprising a closed base and an open top end, the closed base having a diameter equal to that of the mouth of the cannister, and the cylindrical housing receiving at its top end the depressible cap, which is movably fitted within the cylindrical housing with a spring interposed between the depressible cap and the closed base, the depressible cap thereby comprising a piston; an airhole through the closed base of the cylindrical housing, the airhole having a top opening and a bottom opening; and a pliable valve pin comprising a neck, a convex top flange the diameter of which exceeds the top opening of the airhole, and a bottom flange the diameter of which exceeds the bottom opening of the airhole, whereby the neck of the pliable valve pin is movably retained within the airhole, and wherein the convex top flange protrudes away from the top opening of the airhole, and after several pumps of the depressible cap, the convex top flange will begin to flatten against the top opening of the airhole.
 2. The cannister of claim 1 wherein the airhole is contained within a cylindrical extension protruding from the base of the cylindrical housing and inset from the edge of the cylindrical housing, and wherein the cannister further comprises a cap covering the cylindrical extension, the cap having at least one airhole.
 3. The cannister of claim 1 wherein the airhole is contained within a cylindrical extension protruding from the base of the cylindrical housing and inset from the edge of the cylindrical housing, and wherein the cannister further comprises a cap covering the cylindrical extension, the cap being of a flexible material and having a diameter equal to that of the closed base of the cylindrical housing.
 4. The cannister of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving the lid assembly is a threaded connector.
 5. The cannister of claim 2 wherein the means for receiving the lid assembly is a threaded connector.
 6. The cannister of claim 3 wherein the means for receiving the lid assembly is a threaded connector. 